NPR News Now – October 1, 2025, 7PM EDT

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update covers the latest developments in U.S. politics, the ongoing government shutdown, political polarization, international activism, climate change in Switzerland, the challenges faced by coffee farmers globally, and a new financial milestone for Elon Musk.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: Federal Workers Hold the Line

• Federal Workers’ Resolve
  • Federal employees are standing firm alongside Democratic lawmakers, supporting the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies despite President Trump’s threat of mass firings.
    • Elizabeth Riley (USDA employee):

      "We’ve been under attack for nine months as federal workers, and this is just another…another day at work. Although we aren’t working, a lot of my colleagues are going to struggle missing a paycheck. But a lot of us also feel that they need to hold the line." (00:49)

• Political Support
  • Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) notes that his office is being “called and emailed” by constituents urging to persist with the holdout.
• Summary Quote
  • Jenny Abamu (NPR Reporter):

    “Democratic lawmakers such as Jamie Raskin...say constituents have been calling...saying hold the line.” (01:03)

2. Controversial BLS Nominee Withdraws

• Withdrawal of E.J. Antoni
  • President Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), E.J. Antoni, steps aside after criticism for being too partisan and inexperienced.
  • Antoni had worked mainly for right-wing think tanks, in contrast to the BLS’s tradition of being run by nonpartisan technocrats.
  • The White House promises a new nominee soon; BLS economic reports are paused amid the shutdown.
    • Scott Horsley (NPR Reporter):

      “The bureau’s monthly reports on jobs and inflation are on hold for now because of the government shutdown.” (02:06)

3. Poll: Rising Acceptance of Political Violence

• Poll Results
  • A new NPR/PBS/Marist poll finds that 3 in 10 Americans now say violence may be needed to "fix the country," up 11 points from April 2024.
  • Increase is seen among Democrats (from 12% to 28%), with Republicans slightly higher at 31%.
  • Despite this, a robust 70% still say violence is not necessary, and 75% call political violence a major problem.
    • Domenico Montanaro (NPR Correspondent):

      “That this sentiment is on the rise is an alarming sign of the tension in the country.” (02:52)

4. Gaza Flotilla Intercepted

• Activist Mission Blocked
  • A flotilla heading towards Gaza—including Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela—is intercepted by the Israeli Navy.
  • The Israeli Foreign Ministry states that the vessels were warned of entering an “active combat zone.”

5. Switzerland’s Glaciers in Rapid Decline

• Climate Impact Update
  • Swiss glaciers have lost 3% of their volume in a single year; total ice mass in Switzerland is down by 25% over the last decade.
  • Switzerland has nearly 1,400 glaciers; the loss impacts water resources throughout Europe.

6. Coffee Industry in Crisis

• Compounded Challenges
  • Coffee farmers face poverty, labor shortages due to migration, and aging workforces.
  • Climate change is intensifying issues: higher temperatures, erratic weather, floods, and droughts.
  • A study warns that half of current coffee-growing regions could be unusable by 2050.
    • Sara Meraki (Coffee Consultant):

      “It’s a miracle that we still have…we still have plants producing coffee. So this is only going to get worse.” (04:15)

  • Ongoing research into heat-resistant coffee varieties is hopeful but years away from widespread adoption.

7. Elon Musk Approaches Trillionaire Status

• Historic Wealth Milestone
  • Elon Musk briefly becomes the first person to be worth half a trillion dollars due to a Tesla stock surge.
  • Forbes now lists his net worth as $499.1 billion. If a new Tesla pay package is approved, Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire.
  • Oracle’s Larry Ellison briefly surpassed Musk last month amidst a spike in Oracle shares.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Elizabeth Riley (USDA):

  “We’ve been under attack for nine months as federal workers, and this is just another…another day at work.” (00:49)

• Scott Horsley (NPR):

  “The bureau's monthly reports on jobs and inflation are on hold for now because of the government shutdown.” (02:06)

• Domenico Montanaro (NPR):

  “That this sentiment is on the rise is an alarming sign of the tension in the country.” (02:52)

• Sara Meraki (Coffee Consultant):

  “It’s a miracle that we still have…we still have plants producing coffee. So this is only going to get worse.” (04:15)

Segment Timestamps

• [00:16] Federal worker protest and shutdown politics (Jenny Abamu, Elizabeth Riley, Jamie Raskin)
• [01:18] BLS nomination controversy and withdrawal (Scott Horsley)
• [02:09] Poll on rising support for political violence (Domenico Montanaro)
• [02:55] Gaza flotilla interception and Swiss glacier crisis
• [03:49] Coffee industry challenges (James Dubeck, Sara Meraki)
• [04:32] Elon Musk’s financial milestone

This episode is a compressed snapshot of major events shaping the U.S. and world—from deepening political divides and climate realities to notable changes in leadership and economic records.