NPR News Now — September 28, 2025, 1AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Overview:
This concise five-minute news update covers the looming U.S. government shutdown, severe flooding in Arizona, renewed international sanctions against Iran, tensions in Portland, prison transfers for former death row inmates, and key college football upsets of the weekend.

Main Theme

The episode provides listeners with an overview of crucial overnight national and international news, with urgent focus on U.S. political negotiations, escalating environmental crises, foreign affairs, and notable sports results.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Looming U.S. Government Shutdown

• President Trump is scheduled to meet Monday with bipartisan congressional leaders in a last-ditch effort to avert a federal government shutdown.
• Who’s attending:
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
• Democrats’ demands:
  • Stopgap legislation to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
  • Desire to curb rising healthcare prices
• Joint statement: Schumer and Jeffries stress their resolve to avoid a shutdown and seek a bipartisan agreement that "meets the needs of the American people."
  • [00:33] Claudia Grisales:

    “Both said they want to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people.”

2. Arizona Flooding Crisis

• Casualties: At least four dead, two missing from flash floods in Arizona.
• Local impact:
  • Globe, Arizona declared a state of emergency.
  • 1,000 propane tanks swept from a distribution center, causing safety hazards in downtown.
• Personal account:
  • Paul Kempton, business owner:
    • His physical therapy office was “totally destroyed.”
      • [01:42] Paul Kempton:

        “It’s about 3 inches full of mud and water about halfway up the wall and all the equipment has been underwater. Oh my goodness. So to us, it looks like a complete loss.”

• Additional impact: Over 200 flights canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
  • [01:53] Dale Willman:

    “On Friday, more than 200 flights were canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.”

3. International: Return of Iran Sanctions

• Backdrop: UK, France, and Germany reinstate UN Security Council sanctions on Iran after diplomatic efforts by China and Russia fail.
• Key issues:
  • Sanctions target Iran's nuclear ambitions, after Tehran failed to resume cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, violating terms of the 2015 nuclear deal (which the US exited in 2018).
  • New sanctions: arms embargo, global asset freeze, travel bans on officials.
• Iran’s reaction: Calls the sanctions “irresponsible.”
  • [02:14] Terry Schultz:

    “The Iranian regime called the decision to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran irresponsible.”
    “The sanctions include an embargo on conventional weapons, a global asset freeze and travel bans on Iranian officials.”

4. Federal Troop Deployment Threat in Portland, Oregon

• President Trump's announcement: Plans to send troops to Portland to confront "domestic terrorists."
• Local response:
  • Oregon's Democratic governor and Portland police contest the need for federal intervention.
• Concerns raised:
  • [02:54] Dale Willman:

    “But Oregon’s Democratic governor says Trump is abusing his authority by ordering troops into a city she says is doing just fine on its own. The city’s police says the city is doing well.”

5. Prison Transfers After Federal Death Sentence Commutations

• Background: President Biden previously commuted federal death sentences to life without parole.
• Trump’s response: Orders transferred inmates to the ultra-restrictive ADX Florence facility as a reaction.
• Legal concerns: Defense attorneys argue the move is “collective punishment” for decisions the inmates did not make.
• Inmate details:
  • Six were convicted for killing other prisoners or guards;
  • One is a former prison guard;
  • All were previously held in Indiana, where Trump’s first term saw a record 13 executions.
  • [03:32] George Hale:

    “Attorneys argue the move amounts to collective punishment for Biden’s decision, something none of the prisoners had any control over.”

6. College Football Upsets

• Notable upsets among the top-ranked teams:
  • #6 Oregon beats #3 Penn State in double overtime, 30–24.
  • #13 Mississippi over #4 LSU, 24–19.
  • #17 Alabama upsets #5 Georgia, led by Ty Simpson.
  • #11 Indiana tops Iowa, 20-15, with a last-minute 49-yard touchdown pass by Fernando Mendoza.
  • Arkansas Pine Bluff beats Alcorn State, 24–20.
  • [04:18] Dale Willman:

    “Ty Simpson passed for 276 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as number five Georgia lost to number 17 Alabama. Fernando Mendoza, meanwhile, threw a 49 yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes to play in the game to give number 11 Indiana, a 2015 win over Iowa.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:33] Claudia Grisales:

  “Both said they want to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people.”

• [01:42] Paul Kempton (on flood damage):

  “It’s about 3 inches full of mud and water about halfway up the wall and all the equipment has been underwater... it looks like a complete loss.”

• [02:14] Terry Schultz:

  “The Iranian regime called the decision to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran irresponsible.”

• [03:32] George Hale:

  “Attorneys argue the move amounts to collective punishment for Biden’s decision, something none of the prisoners had any control over.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19 — News begins, government shutdown talks
• 00:33 — Bipartisan budget deal discussion
• 01:18 — Arizona flooding crisis
• 01:42 — Business owner testimony on flood damage
• 01:53 — Phoenix flights canceled; International: Iran sanctions
• 02:14 — Details on Iran sanctions
• 02:54 — Trump threatens troop deployment in Portland
• 03:32 — Death row inmates moved to ADX Florence
• 04:18 — College football upsets recap

Tone and Conclusion

The tone is urgent, informative, and concise, embodying NPR News Now’s commitment to clear, balanced reporting. The episode compresses major policy and news developments into a compact format, providing essential updates for listeners on the go.