NPR News: 09-28-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: September 28, 2025, 1PM EDT

Host: Nora Ramm, NPR News
Episode Overview:
This five-minute news update covers critical national and international headlines: looming threats of a U.S. government shutdown, legal fallout from a new Tylenol-autism allegation, violence at an ICE field office and a Michigan church, a Russian attack on Ukraine, a deadly stampede in India, and a tribute to the last Tuskegee Airman to fly WWII missions.

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Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looming U.S. Government Shutdown

[00:16] – [01:12]

• Congressional leaders, set to meet with President Trump, are negotiating ways to avoid a partial government shutdown as the fiscal year draws to a close without new appropriations.
• Main sticking point: Republican demands for a short-term spending bill vs. Democratic insistence on reversing GOP cuts to health care.
• Notable Quote:

  "We've got to address this Republican health care crisis. Think about this, the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, a potential $536 billion cut to Medicare."
  — Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader ([00:47])

• Additional context: Jeffries warns that failing to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits could dramatically raise costs for over 20 million Americans.

2. Tylenol, Autism, and Mounting Lawsuits

[01:12] – [02:07]

• Trump administration's mention of a possible link between Tylenol and autism has triggered a surge in litigation against manufacturer Kenvu.
• Lawyers for plaintiffs hope the administration’s statement could sway the court, despite a 2023 ruling disqualifying their experts for allegedly misinterpreting data.
• Expert Insight: Outside legal analysts express skepticism, reiterating a lack of new data and the crucial need to prove "causation" in such cases.

3. Shooting at Dallas ICE Office

[02:07] – [03:02]

• ICE confirms the identities of three detainees recently shot at its Dallas field office:
  • Norlin Guzman Fuentes (El Salvador), killed
  • Miguel Garcia Hernandez (Mexico), hospitalized
  • Jose Bordones Molina (Venezuela), condition unclear
• Identity of shooter: Joshua Yan, 29, who fired from a nearby building before taking his own life.
• Authorities state Yan intended to target ICE agents; motives are under investigation.

4. Shooting at Michigan Mormon Church

[03:02] – [03:24]

• Gun violence erupted 50 miles north of Detroit at a Mormon church.
• Police confirm multiple victims but have not released details.
• Authorities stress there is no ongoing public threat.

5. Major Russian Attack on Kyiv

[03:24] – [03:39]

• Ukrainian officials report a ‘major’ combined drone and missile assault:
  • At least four killed (including a 12-year-old girl), dozens wounded
  • One of the most sustained attacks on the capital since the war began

6. Deadly Stampede in Southern India

[03:39] – [04:06]

• Death toll from a massive stampede rises to at least 39 with dozens hospitalized.
• Event drew tens of thousands for a speech by Vijay, celebrity-turned-politician, during an election campaign.
• Vijay expressed heartbreak over the tragedy.

7. Death of Lt. Col. George Hardy, Tuskegee Airman

[04:06] – [04:51]

• Lt. Col. George Hardy, last surviving WWII combat pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen, dies at 100.
• Hardy’s legacy: 21 missions in WWII, 45 in Korea; awarded Congressional Gold Medal.
• Notable Quote:

  "He would tell young people, hey, serve your country. This is your country, too. I'm going to do my best to serve my country. And they sure did."
  — Leon Butler, Jr., President, Tuskegee Airmen Inc. ([04:35])

• Remembrance highlighted both his military valor and his efforts to overcome racial prejudice.

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Memorable Quotes

• Hakeem Jeffries:

  "We've got to address this Republican health care crisis... more than 20 million Americans are going to experience dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles in an environment where the cost of living in America is already too high."
  ([00:47])

• Leon Butler, Jr.:

  "This is your country, too. I'm going to do my best to serve my country. And they sure did."
  ([04:35])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |----------------------------------------------|-----------:| | Federal budget & health care negotiations | 00:16 | | Hakeem Jeffries interview, ACA stakes | 00:47 | | Tylenol lawsuit developments | 01:12 | | Dallas ICE office shooting updates | 02:07 | | Michigan church shooting | 03:02 | | Russian attack on Kyiv | 03:24 | | Stampede in India | 03:39 | | Tribute to Lt. Col. George Hardy | 04:06 |

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This concise newscast delivers critical updates and impactful voices from American politics, courts, public safety, and world affairs, along with a moving remembrance of a WWII hero.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Congressional leaders are to meet with President Trump at the White House tomorrow on avoiding a partial government shutdown. The fiscal year ends Tuesday and Congress has not passed the appropriation bills to authorize government spending. The Republicans want the Democrats to agree to a short term bill to keep the government open. The House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, says any legislation must undo recent Republican cuts to health care programs.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

We've got to address this Republican health care crisis. Think about this, the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, a potential $536 billion cut to Medicare. And if Congress doesn't act by the end of the year, and if we don't extend the Affordable Care act tax Credits, more than 20 million Americans are going to experience dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles in an environment where the cost of living in America is already too high.

[Nora Ramm]

He was interviewed on ABC's this Week. The Trump administration's announcement that there may be a link between Tylenol and autism is causing legal headaches for The Painkiller's Maker. Kenvu NPR's Sidney Lupkin reports.

[Sidney Lupkin]

One lawyer representing plaintiffs in an ongoing case against Tylenol's maker says his office received more than 1,000 calls following the Trump administration's announcement this week. The lawsuit hit a roadblock in late 2023. A judge ruled to exclude testimony from the plaintiff's experts. She wrote that those experts cherry picked and misinterpreted the data they were relying on. But in light of the Trump administration's comments, lawyers for the plaintiffs hope the court will reconsider. Outside legal experts tell n that since there's no new data, it might not make a difference. And in product liability cases, you have to prove causation, which hasn't been established. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed the identities of the three detainees who were shot at its field office in Dallas last Wednesday. Toluwanyosimbamuwo with member station K E R A reports.

[Toluwani Osi Bamawo]

Norlin Guzman Fuentes, a 37 year old from El Salvador, was killed in the shooting. The Dallas county medical examiner governor's office lists his cause of death as homicide. Miguel Garcia Hernandez of Mexico remains in the hospital. A third detainee, Jose Bordones Molina of Venezuela, was injured in the shooting, but his condition is unclear. An ICE official confirmed the men's identities but did not specify when or why they were taken into custody. Authorities say 29 year old Fairview resident Joshua Yan shot at the ICE office from a nearby building before turning the gun on himself. The Department of Justice says Yan meant to target ICE agents. For NPR News, I'm Toluwani Osi Bamawo in Dallas.

[Nora Ramm]

Gunfire erupted at a Mormon church in Michigan today, about 50 miles north of Detroit. Police say multiple people were shot but provided no details. They say there's no threat now to the public. This is NPR News. Ukrainian officials say Russia launched a major drone and missile attack this morning. At least four people were killed, including a 12 year old girl. Dozens more were wounded. The capital was hit hard for 12 hours, one of the most sustained attacks on Kyiv since the full scale war began. The death toll is rising after a stampede in southern India yesterday. Officials said Today at least 39 people were killed. Dozens more were hospitalized. Tens of thousands of people had gathered to hear Vijay, an actor turned politician who's campaigning ahead of state elections early next year. He said he was heartbroken by the stampede. The last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen to fly combat missions during World War II in Europe has died at the age of 100. NPR's Chandelyse Duster has more.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Lt. Col. George Hardy was born in Philadelphia in June 1925. At 19 years old, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and became the youngest Red Tail fighter with the Tuskegee airmen. He completed 21 missions during World War II and flew 45 combat missions during the Korean War. Leon Butler, Jr. National president of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, says Hardy was not only an inspiration because of his military career, but how he overcame racial prejudice.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

He would tell young people, hey, serve your country. This is your country, too. I'm going to do my best to serve my country. And they sure did.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Hardy received numerous honors for his military service, including the Congressional Gold Medal. Shondalyse Duster, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

And I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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