NPR News: 09-28-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: September 28, 2025, 12PM EDT

Overview

In this crisp five-minute newscast, NPR delivers the top headlines from the United States and around the world. Today's coverage focuses on the looming threat of a partial U.S. government shutdown, tensions over federal troops potentially being sent to Portland, escalating international issues including Israel-Gaza and NATO’s Baltic deployments, urgent typhoon warnings in Vietnam, a notable shakeup in America’s beer market, and the lighter side of nature with Fat Bear Week.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Impending U.S. Government Shutdown

Host: Nora Raum
[00:21–01:04]

• The U.S. government faces a shutdown with funding bills stalled ahead of the Tuesday night deadline.

• President Trump scheduled a meeting with Congressional leaders, including Democrats Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, to discuss a stopgap funding bill.

• House Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking to CNN, accuses Democrats of using essential services as political leverage:

  "I'm telling you where his head is. He wants to bring in the leaders to come in and act like leaders and do the right thing for the American people. ... You don't hold the people hostage for their services to allow yourself political cover. And that's what Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are doing right now."
  — House Speaker Mike Johnson [00:47]

• Democrats are pushing for an extension of health care subsidies for middle and low-income families, set to expire this year.

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2. Federal Troops Threatened in Portland

Reporter: Matt Bloom
[01:04–02:09]

• President Trump announced plans to send federal troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the need to "protect war-ravaged Portland and any of its ICE facilities."

• Oregon officials dispute the necessity, noting only minor recent protests and arrests near Portland’s main ICE facility.

• Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, alongside the state governor, strongly rejects the intervention:

  "President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero."
  — Mayor Keith Wilson [01:51]

• The state may pursue legal action if Trump proceeds, referencing earlier troop deployments to Los Angeles.

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3. International Affairs & Security

a) Israel-Hamas War & U.S. Involvement

Host: Nora Raum
[02:09–02:37]

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Trump in Washington as pressure mounts to end the conflict in Gaza.
• Netanyahu recently told the UN General Assembly that Israel "must finish the job against Hamas."

b) NATO Response to Drone Incursions

Reporter: Terry Schultz
[02:37–03:15]

• NATO is increasing military resources in the Baltic Sea after repeated drone sightings over Denmark's airspace, particularly sensitive military locations.
• The reinforcements include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance platforms, and at least one air defense frigate.
• Russia officially denies involvement in the drone activity.

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4. Typhoon Forces Evacuations in Vietnam

Host: Nora Raum
[03:15–03:49]

• A powerful typhoon is approaching central and northern Vietnam, prompting mass evacuations and airport closures.
• The storm has already caused at least 10 deaths in the Philippines and is expected to bring destructive winds, rain, and life-threatening floods and landslides.

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5. Michelob Ultra Becomes America’s Top-Selling Beer

Reporter: Ava Pukash
[03:49–04:35]

• Michelob Ultra overtakes Modelo Especial as the top beer brand in the U.S.
• Modelo’s previous surge followed backlash from a transgender influencer partnership with Bud Light.
• Constellation (Modelo’s parent company) notes shifting Hispanic consumer habits, influenced by President Trump's immigration policies, have impacted sales.
• Michelob Ultra’s growth is credited to sports sponsorships and its popular non-alcoholic variant.

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6. Fat Bear Week in Alaska

Host: Nora Raum
[04:35–04:59]

• Katmai National Park’s beloved "Fat Bear Week" competition, celebrating Alaska's brown bears prepping for hibernation, is nearing its finale.
• Voting is open at explore.org until Tuesday night for the public to crown the fattest champion.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Congressional gridlock:

  "You don't hold the people hostage for their services to allow yourself political cover."
  — House Speaker Mike Johnson [00:55]

• On Portland troop deployment:

  "The number of necessary troops is zero."
  — Mayor Keith Wilson [01:51]

• On shifting beer sales:

  "Michelob Ultra knocks Constellations Modelo Especial out of the top spot, according to data by market researcher company Circana."
  — Ava Pukash [03:49]

• On Fat Bear Week:

  "Only one bear will be crowned champion."
  — Nora Raum [04:54]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Government Shutdown: 00:21–01:04
• Oregon Troops/Portland: 01:04–02:09
• Israel, Gaza & NATO Baltic: 02:09–03:15
• Vietnam Typhoon: 03:15–03:49
• Beer Market Shakeup: 03:49–04:35
• Fat Bear Week: 04:35–04:59

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This edition of NPR News Now delivers a rapid, balanced overview of urgent national policy disputes, international security tensions, impactful weather events, and a touch of cultural fun—all within five minutes.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from Michelin. More than a tire company, Michelin is an innovation company now taking on space, developing an airless wheel for space exploration. Motion for Life. [e-mail] y Michelinnovation live from NPR News.

[Nora Raum]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. The deadline is fast approaching to avoid a partial government shutdown. The fiscal year ends Tuesday night and Congress has not approved the regular bills to pay for government programs. President Trump is to meet tomorrow with congressional leaders on a stopgap bill, including Democrats, Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN the president doesn't want the government to shut down.

[House Speaker Mike Johnson]

I'm telling you where his head is. He wants to bring in the leaders to come in and act like leaders and do the right thing for the American people. And it's fine to have partisan debates and squabbles, but you don't hold the people hostage for their services to allow yourself political cover. And that's what Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are doing right now.

[Nora Raum]

The Democrats want a provision to extend health care subsidies for middle and low income families that are now slated to expire this year. Officials in Oregon are pushing back against President Trump's announcement that he'll send federal troops into Portland. And NPR's Matt Bloom has more.

[Matt Bloom]

Trump said in a post on social media that he will send troops to protect, quote, war ravaged Portland and any of its ICE facilities as he threatens to expand his deployments to more American cities. State and local officials in Oregon say there have been small protests and some arrests recently outside of Portland's main ICE facility, but nothing they say is big enough to warrant a federal response. And Mayor Keith Wilson spoke alongside the state's governor at a press conference.

[Mayor Keith Wilson]

President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero.

[Matt Bloom]

Oregon's governor says the state will respond legally if Trump still sends troops, as he did to Los Angeles earlier this year. Matt Bloom, NPR News.

[Nora Raum]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Trump at the White House tomorrow as international pressure mounts to end the war against Hamas in Gaz. Netanyahu told the UN General assembly last week Israel must finish the job against Hamas. NATO is sending military reinforcements to the Baltic Sea in light of several days of drone intrusions over the Nordic countries, especially Denmark. Terry Schultz reports.

[Terry Schultz]

A NATO military official says the alliance has been in constant contact with the Danish government about the daily appearances of drones in its airspace, including over military locations. Colonel Martin o' Donnell says NATO has therefore decided to step up its vigilance in the region by sending more resources to the Baltic sentry operations set up in January primarily to counter the cutting of undersea cables by ships linked to Moscow. O' Donnell says the additional assets include multiple intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms and at least one air defense frigate. On Tuesday, Russia denied it was responsible for the drones. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Copenhagen.

[Nora Raum]

This is NPR News. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in central and northern Vietnam as a powerful typhoon approaches. It's expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain and storm surges, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. Some airports are closed. The typhoon killed at least 10 people in the Philippines in recent days. Michelob Ultra is now America's top selling beer. NPR's Ava Pukash reports. It marks a return to the top spot for a parent company, Anheuser Busch.

[Ava Pukash]

Michelob Ultra knocks 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 Pukiac, NPR News.

[Nora Raum]

From beer to bears, fat Bear Week is almost over. The annual competition features the brown bears at Katmai national park in Alaska to celebrate their success in getting fat before the winter hibernation. Voting is [e-mail] until Tuesday night. Only one bear will be crowned champion. I'm Nora Raum, NPR News, in Washington.

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