NPR News: 09-29-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 29, 2025, 7AM EDT

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Windsor Johnston
Length: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the latest breaking news in the U.S., highlighting these main stories:

• The aftermath of a deadly church shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan
• Ongoing congressional budget standoff threatening a government shutdown
• Updates in the New York City mayoral race, including the departure of Eric Adams
• Legal developments in the case of Charlie Kirk’s killing
• The battle over the federal education budget
• Missouri’s Republican-favoring redistricting law

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Grand Blanc, Michigan Church Shooting

[00:16 – 01:27]

• Schools in Grand Blanc closed after a violent attack at a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
• Steve Carmody reports:
  • 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his truck into the church, opened fire, and set it ablaze.
  • Police Chief William Renney commended the congregation’s bravery during the attack:

    "They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith." – William Renney [01:01]

  • Sanford died in a shootout with police; FBI is investigating as targeted violence.

2. Looming Federal Government Shutdown

[01:27 – 02:00]

• Congress faces a tight deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R):

  "The ball is in their court. There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. We could pick it up today and pass it." [01:40]

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D):

  "It depends on the Republicans. You know, we need the meeting is a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation." [01:53]

• Top congressional leaders to meet with President Trump for negotiations at the White House.

3. New York City Mayoral Race Shake-up

[02:00 – 03:13]

• Mayor Eric Adams drops his third-party bid amid scandals.
• Brian Mann reports:
  • Main contenders: Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, seeking a comeback.
  • Cuomo warns of "destructive extremist forces."
  • Mamdani responds, referencing Cuomo’s past sexual assault scandal:

    "New York City, quote, deserves better than trading in one disgraced corrupt politician for another," – Zoran Mamdani [02:57]

  • Republican Curtis Sliwa remains in the race.

4. Charlie Kirk Murder Case Court Update

[03:13 – 03:53]

• Tyler Robinson, 22, charged with the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, faces another court appearance.
• Judge will decide if the case proceeds to trial; prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

5. Federal Education Budget Clash

[03:53 – 04:35]

• Three competing K-12 funding proposals from the White House, Senate, and House Republicans.
• Cory Turner reports:
  • The bipartisan Senate plan maintains current funding.
  • The Trump proposal ends support for English learners and scales back rural/teacher funding.
  • House Republican plan would cut $4.7 billion from funds aiding high-poverty schools.
  • Analyses show biggest cuts would hit the poorest schools.

6. Missouri Congressional Redistricting

[04:35 – 04:58]

• Missouri governor signs a congressional map favoring Republicans for the 2026 midterms.
• The move aligns with President Trump’s strategy to bolster the GOP’s narrow House majority.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith.”
  – William Renney (Grand Blanc Township Police Chief) [01:01]
• “The ball is in their court. There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. We could pick it up today and pass it.”
  – John Thune (Senate Majority Leader) [01:40]
• “It depends on the Republicans. You know, we need the meeting is a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation.”
  – Chuck Schumer (Senate Minority Leader) [01:53]
• “New York City, quote, deserves better than trading in one disgraced corrupt politician for another,”
  – Zoran Mamdani [02:57]

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Segment Timestamps

• Michigan Church Shooting: [00:16 – 01:27]
• Government Shutdown Talks: [01:27 – 02:00]
• NYC Mayoral Race Update: [02:00 – 03:13]
• Charlie Kirk Murder Case Update: [03:13 – 03:53]
• Federal Education Budget Debate: [03:53 – 04:35]
• Missouri Redistricting: [04:35 – 04:58]

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This concise newscast delivers a fast-moving update on major national headlines, emphasizing the intensity and stakes of both political negotiations and community tragedies. The reporting showcases direct language from leaders and provides a snapshot of the current U.S. political landscape as of late September 2025.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

O.com Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Schools in Grand Blanc, Michigan are closed a day after a deadly shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Authorities are working to determine a motive for the attack that left at least four people dead. Steve Carmody from Michigan Public Radio reports.

[Steve Carmody]

Police say 40 year old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his truck through the entrance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, about 60 miles north of Detroit. He then allegedly started shooting and deliberately set the church on fire. Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renney praised the bravery of the people inside the church during the attack.

[William Renney]

They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith.

[Steve Carmody]

Sanford died after exchanging gunfire with police. Authorities are sifting through the burned out church looking for additional victims. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of targeted violence. For NPR News, I'm Steve Carmody in Flint, Michigan.

[NPR News Anchor]

Congress is up against the clock to strike a bipartisan deal to keep the government funded ahead of a critical deadline on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune tells NBC's Meet the Press that it's up to the Democrats.

[William Renney]

The ball is in their court. There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. We could pick it up today and pass it.

[NPR News Anchor]

Also speaking to NBC, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at the gop.

[Chuck Schumer]

It depends on the Republicans. You know, we need the meeting is a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation.

[NPR News Anchor]

With both parties locked in a funding standoff, the four top congressional leaders are set to hold talks with President Trump at the White House today. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped his third party bid for re election. NPR's Brian Mann reports. The big question now is whether former Governor Andrew Cuomo can catch Zoran Mamdani, the political newcomer who's been leading the race for months.

[Brian Mann]

This is now a three way race, but the big contenders are Mamdani, the 33 year old Democratic socialist and state assemblyman who's led in polls by a wide margin, And Cuomo, the 67 year old former governor fighting for a political comeback after Adams dropped his scandal plagued bid Sunday. Cuomo and Mamdani quickly traded barbs. Cuomo warned of destructive extremist forces that threatened the city. Madani, who would be the city's first Muslim mayor, the pointed to Cuomo's sexual assault scandal that forced him to resign as governor in 2021. New York City, quote, deserves better than trading in one disgraced corrupt politician for another, mamdani said. Republican Curtis Sliwa also faces pressure to drop out, but says he's staying in through Election Day November 4th. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York.

[NPR News Anchor]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The man charged in the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to make another court appearance today. A judge will determine whether there's enough evidence against 22 year old Tyler Robinson to move ahead with the trial. Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder and plan to seek the death penalty under state law. In Utah, the battle over next year's federal education budget has begun. And NPR's Cory Turner reports. Congress and the White House have released three competing funding proposals for the Nation's K through 12 schools.

[Cory Turner]

The White House, Senate and House Republicans have all proposed education department budgets for fiscal year 2026. The bipartisan Senate plan would largely fund the status quo. Not so the other two. The Trump budget would end all funding to help schools teach English language learners and scale back funding for rural schools and things like teacher training. The House Republican budget would cut $4.7 billion from the pot that directly supports high poverty schools. Multiple data analyses from liberal leaning think tanks estimate both proposals would cut more funding from the nation's lowest income schools than from its wealthiest. Cory Turner, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The governor of Missouri has signed a new congressional map into law that gives Republicans a better shot at winning additional seats in the US House in next year's midterm election. The redistricting effort is part of President Trump's plan to try and hold on to the GOP's slim majority. This is NPR News in Washington.

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