NPR News: 09-29-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 09-29-2025 2AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Date: September 29, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A fast-paced update on national and international news, focusing on a deadly church attack in Michigan, federal troop deployment disputes in Portland, escalating conflict in Gaza, Typhoon Buoloy’s landfall, the dramatic Ryder Cup, and weekend box office results.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. Michigan Church Attack and Aftermath

[00:18–01:18]

• Summary:
  Authorities in Grand Blanc, Michigan, are investigating a deadly attack during a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service. A man drove his pickup into the church, opened fire, and set the building ablaze, resulting in at least four deaths.
• Details:
  • Suspect: Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old military veteran.
  • Police Response: Sanford was neutralized on site; FBI is treating the act as targeted violence.
  • Aftermath: Multiple bomb threats in the community; city schools closed in response.
• Quote:

  "This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country."
  — Reuben Coleman, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge, [01:01]

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2. Federal Troop Deployment Dispute: Portland, Oregon

[01:18–02:18]

• Summary:
  President Trump is preparing to send federal troops to Portland, Oregon, prompting swift pushback from state officials who label the action an abuse of federal power.
• Details:
  • Governor’s Stance: Tina Kotech is collaborating with the state attorney general to file a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against the deployment.
  • Context: Federal response follows security issues at Portland’s ICE facility.
• Quote:

  "Oregon is our home. It is not a military target, and we're going to fight back to make sure that we can keep Oregon safe."
  — Tina Kotech, Governor of Oregon, [01:51]

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3. Escalation in Gaza City

[02:18–03:11]

• Summary:
  Israeli tanks push further into Gaza City, escalating confrontation with Hamas as civilians face mounting humanitarian crises.
• Details:
  • Airstrikes continue; hospitals report 30 killed overnight.
  • Thousands flee south; relief organizations (e.g., Doctors Without Borders) have suspended operations due to safety.
• Quote:

  "The pressure that Israel is putting on is not letting up… the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate."
  — John Donison, Reporting from Jerusalem, [02:40]

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4. Typhoon Buoloy Approaches China

[03:11–03:46]

• Summary:
  Typhoon Buoloy, following landfall in Vietnam, threatens China with severe weather.
• Details:
  • Heavy winds, rain, and storm surges already hit Vietnam.
  • Thousands have been evacuated from central and northern Vietnam.

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5. Ryder Cup: Europe Downs USA in Heated Finale

[03:46–04:29]

• Summary:
  Team Europe beats Team USA 15–13 in the Ryder Cup, with the competition in New York overshadowed by unruly fan behavior.
• Details:
  • Rory McIlroy confronted jeering and heckling; at one point, he used an expletive and refused to play until quiet resumed.
  • Police ejected two spectators; another individual was charged with stealing a golf cart.
  • Keegan Bradley, USA captain, mostly defended the crowd.
• Quotes:

  "The fans of New York all I've seen have been pretty good. You're always going to have a few people that cross the line, and that's unfortunate."
  — Keegan Bradley, USA Team Captain, [04:09]

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6. Box Office Results: “One Battle After Another” Tops Charts

[04:29–04:58]

• Summary:
  The new action movie “One Battle After Another” secures the top spot at North American theaters, grossing $22.4 million.
• Details:
  • “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” follows in second place ($13.5 million).
  • The latest “Demon Slayer” entry ranks third ($7.1 million).
  • “One Battle After Another” production cost exceeded $130 million.

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• [01:01]
  Reuben Coleman condemns the Michigan church attack as unacceptable anywhere in the country.
• [01:51]
  Governor Kotech’s defiant stance against federal troop deployment in Oregon.
• [02:40]
  On-the-ground depiction of the pressure and worsening conditions in Gaza City.
• [04:09]
  Keegan Bradley defends most New York fans but acknowledges “a few people that cross the line.”

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Tone & Language

• Factual, urgent, and empathetic—matching the rapid-fire delivery and gravitas of NPR News updates.
• Direct quotations included where speakers voice emotion or strong positions.
• The narrative emphasizes both the gravity of tragic events and the energy of major sporting and entertainment news.

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Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Authorities in Michigan say they've recovered two bodies from the burnt out remains of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc. At least four people were killed during a church service when a man drove his pickup into the church then opened fire. Alex McLennan, a member station WDET reports.

[Alex McLennan]

Law officials say Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40 year old military veteran, crashed his truck into the church before opening fire on the Mormon congregation and setting the building ablaze. Police neutralized Sanford shortly after in a church parking lot. FBI acting Special agent in charge Reuben Coleman says the attack is being investigated as a targeted act of violence.

[Reuben Coleman]

This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country.

[Alex McLennan]

No motive for the attack has been given. Michigan police say they've responded to a number of bomb threats in the community following the Grand Blank attack. For NPR news, I'm Alex McLennan in Detroit.

[Dale Willman]

City schools, meanwhile, will be closed on Monday because of the shooting. The Trump administration is planning to send federal troops soon to Portland, Oregon. The move follows a similar effort at the nation's capital. And as Oregon Public Broadcasting's Tiffany Camhi, state officials are moving quickly to stop this latest deployment from happening.

[Tiffany Camhi]

Oregon Governor Tina Kotech says sending National Guard members to the state's largest city is an abuse of federal power. Kotech says she's working closely with Oregon's attorney general on litigation that alleges the move is unlawful.

[Tina Kotech]

Oregon is our home. It is not a military target, and we're going to fight back to make sure that we can keep Oregon safe.

[Tiffany Camhi]

The suit seeks a temporary restraining order to block the deployment of armed forces. President Trump has been threatening to send troops to Portland for weeks, citing security concerns at the city's Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. For NPR News, I'm Tiffany Kamhai in Portland.

[Dale Willman]

Israeli tanks are pushing further into Gaza City center in western areas where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering. Now. Local health authorities say they've been unable to respond to dozens of desperate calls for help, and they're now expressing concern over the fate of the residents there. John Donison has more from Jerusalem.

[John Donison]

Israel's operation to capture Gaza City and eliminate Hamas. They say Gaza City is Hamas last stronghold, very much ongoing, more airstrikes overnight, 30 people killed, according to hospitals in Gaza. So the pressure that Israel is putting on is not letting up. And all the while, people are continuing to flee south and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. I saw that medicine sans frontier had pulled out of Gaza City in the last few days. They say it's simply not safe enough to operate.

[Dale Willman]

That's the BBC's John Donison with our report. You're listening to NPR News. Typhoon Buoloy is heading toward China at this hour. The storm made land on Vietnam Sunday, bringing with it strong winds, heavy rains and major storm surges. Thousands of people were evacuated from Vietnam's central and northern provinces. And in preparation for the storm in golf, Team Europe defeated Team USA at the Ryder cup on Sunday, 15 to 13. NPR's Chandelyse Duster has more on the championship game played in New York State, a game that was overshadowed by unruly fans.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Rory McIlroy faced the brunt of insults and cursing from unruly spectators who also jeered at his wife throughout the weekend during the Ryder Cup. At one point, McElroy pushed back against the jeering, using an expletive. He also refused to putt until the jeering stopped. Keegan Bradley, captain of Team usa, defended fans during a press conference by the Ryder cup on Saturday.

[Keegan Bradley]

The fans of New York all I've seen have been pretty good. You're always going to have a few people that cross the line, and that's unfortunate.

[Chandelyse Duster]

New York State police say two spectators were ejected from the Ryder cup on Saturday after a verbal altercation. A person was also charged with two misdemeanors for stealing a golf cart used for the game. Chandelyse Duster, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The movie One Battle After Another was number one at the movie theaters this weekend. The movie of rebellion and Resistance brought in $22.4 million in ticket sales across North American theaters. The movie cost more than $130 million to make Gabby's Dollhouse. The movie, meanwhile, was in second with $13.5 million in ticket sales, while the latest demon slayer dropped a third with $7.1 million in sales. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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