NPR News Now – October 5, 2025, 1PM EDT
Overview:
This episode of NPR News Now, hosted by Nora Ram, delivers a concise five-minute roundup of the hour’s top headlines. Stories include diplomatic developments regarding the Gaza conflict, the Trump administration’s domestic military deployments, the onset of a significant Supreme Court term, an investigation into a deadly Montgomery shootout, new protest restrictions in the UK, and a major blizzard stranding hundreds on Mount Everest.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. US-Led Gaza Peace Talks and Ongoing Violence
- (00:19) Talks will occur in Egypt tomorrow with representatives from Israel, Hamas, and the US regarding a US proposal to end the war in Gaza.
- President Trump expressed optimism about the deal, claiming widespread benefits but key issues remain unresolved:
- Israel demands Hamas’ disarmament (via diplomacy or force).
- Hamas seeks clarity on Israel’s timeline and method for potential withdrawal from Gaza.
- (01:07) Field report from Gaza (Anis Baba):
- Brief lull in violence as Israeli forces temporarily retreat from the city center.
- Shortly after, an Israeli airstrike kills 18 (Abd al Aal family) and injures over 70.
- Israeli military claims they were targeting a specific Hamas militant (unnamed).
- Gaza City remains under evacuation, still cut off from the south, as displaced families await a true ceasefire.
Notable Quote:
"It’s a great deal for Israel and it’s a great deal for everybody. ... You want to get your hostages back, right? ... It’s a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world and world."
— Donald Trump (00:33)
2. Domestic Deployment of National Guard Troops
- (01:58) The Trump administration continues efforts to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-run cities, facing significant legal and political setbacks.
- (02:12) Joe Hernandez reports:
- A federal judge blocked the administration from deploying the Guard to Portland, Oregon, ruling that recent ICE facility protests do not amount to rebellion.
- Trump authorized 300 Guard troops for Chicago; Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker objects, deeming the threat “absolutely outrageous and un-American.”
- Previous deployments occurred in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
Notable Quote:
“[Pritzker] called the threat, quote, absolutely outrageous and un-American.”
— Joe Hernandez, summarizing Illinois Governor’s response (02:32)
3. Supreme Court Term and Presidential Power
- (02:58) The new Supreme Court term opens tomorrow, primed to address cases involving:
- The president's authority to fire independent regulators.
- Attempts to restrict birthright citizenship.
4. Violence in Montgomery, Alabama
- (03:12) Ongoing police investigation after a downtown Montgomery shootout between rival gunmen in a busy nightlife district.
- Two dead, at least 12 wounded; no arrests made as yet.
5. Protester Crackdowns in the UK
- (03:48) Vicki Barker reports from London:
- British police responded to weekly civil disobedience actions and pro-Palestine sit-ins with increased restraint and force — often requiring multiple officers to remove passive protestors.
- Security bolstered outside synagogues and Jewish schools after a recent attack.
- The UK government plans to expand police authority to impose additional restrictions on repeat protest locations.
Memorable Moment:
“It takes five officers to carry away each protester, each protester trying to make the process of arrest as slow and laborious as possible.”
— Vicki Barker (03:55)
6. Mount Everest Blizzard Strands Hundreds
- (04:33) Rescue efforts on the eastern, Tibetan side of Mount Everest underway after a blizzard blocks access roads, trapping nearly 1,000 people in camps.
- Initiated Friday evening, the snowstorm continues; local villagers and rescue teams are clearing access.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- Donald Trump (on Israel-Hamas deal):
- "It’s a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world and world."
(00:36)
- "It’s a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world and world."
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (via reporter):
- “Absolutely outrageous and un-American.”
(02:32, quoted by Joe Hernandez)
- “Absolutely outrageous and un-American.”
- Vicki Barker (on UK protests):
- “It takes five officers to carry away each protester, each protester trying to make the process of arrest as slow and laborious as possible.”
(03:55)
- “It takes five officers to carry away each protester, each protester trying to make the process of arrest as slow and laborious as possible.”
Important Timestamps
- 00:19: NPR newscast begins; main headlines and context
- 00:33: President Trump’s statement on Gaza peace proposal
- 01:07: On-the-ground Gaza report – airstrike and civilian deaths
- 02:12: Legal obstacles to US National Guard deployments
- 02:58: Next Supreme Court term preview
- 03:12: Montgomery, AL shootout update
- 03:48: UK protest restrictions (Vicki Barker)
- 04:33: Everest blizzard rescue operations
Summary compiled from the NPR News Now broadcast (October 5, 2025, 1PM EDT). All information is derived from live reporting and official sources as of the time of airing.