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Top Headlines Today
A shooting incident at the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office yesterday resulted in the death of at least one detainee and injuries to two others. The perpetrator also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Federal officials have labeled the event as a deliberate act of violence targeting ICE. This incident marks the third episode of gun-related violence at immigration centers in Texas this year, amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Law enforcement personnel respond near the site of a shooting at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Dallas, Texas, on September 24.
Aric Becker/AFP via Getty Images
- 🎧 While authorities have yet to identify a clear motive behind the fatal shooting, they have released photos of five unfired bullet casings found at the scene, one inscribed with “ANTI ICE,” reports Toluwani Osibamowo from NPR’s KERA station on Up First. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons named the shooter as Joshua Jahn during a CBS News interview. NPR’s investigation revealed Jahn lived in a suburb roughly 30 miles north of Dallas and had no prior violent criminal record. Neighbor Sherry Davis described the neighborhood as close-knit but admitted little was known about Jahn. “I never would have imagined someone feeling so alienated lived so near me,” Davis remarked.
Facing a potential government shutdown, the White House has circulated a directive urging federal agencies to draft plans for widespread job cuts if funding lapses occur. Unlike previous shutdowns that placed workers on temporary unpaid leave, this strategy aims to permanently eliminate positions in programs that do not align with President Trump’s agenda. A major point of contention between Democrats and Republicans over the short-term funding bill centers on health insurance subsidies for millions relying on the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- 🎧 Open enrollment for ACA marketplaces begins November 1 for those without employer-sponsored coverage. NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin warns that if Congress fails to renew the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits, many Americans will face steep premium increases during the upcoming enrollment period. She shared stories of a West Virginia resident planning to divert retirement savings to cover higher insurance costs, and a Florida resident contemplating a job change to secure employer benefits.
At the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a stark warning about an escalating global arms race fueled by artificial intelligence. He urged international leaders to intervene and halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called for the establishment of global regulations governing AI’s role in weaponry. Zelenskyy described the current moment as “the most destructive arms race in human history” due to AI advancements. His address followed a recent shift in former President Trump’s public stance, now supporting Ukraine’s efforts against Russia.
- 🎧 NPR’s Joanna Kakissis reports that Ukrainians appreciate Trump’s recognition of Russia as the aggressor, though Oleksandr Kraiev, director of the North American program at the Ukrainian Prism Foreign Policy Council, notes that Trump has not offered additional U.S. support. Kraiev suggests the Trump administration may be stepping back from peace negotiations, leaving the European Union to take a leading role. Meanwhile, the Kremlin dismissed Trump’s optimism about Ukraine’s chances of victory.
Featured Listen
Ameya Desai, the middle school winner of NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge, poses with Linda Horikawa, an 84-year-old grandmother whose WWII internment camp experience was featured in Desai’s podcast.
Talia Herman/for NPR
For the first time, NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge crowned a returning champion: Ameya Desai. Last year, she earned the fourth-grade award for a podcast interviewing her grandfather about his family’s forced migration from India to Uganda and then the U.S. Building on that success, she recently spoke with her neighbor’s 85-year-old grandmother, Linda Horikawa, who survived the Japanese American internment camps during World War II. Horikawa shared haunting memories and opened a trunk untouched for 25 years, revealing identification cards, newsletters, and clippings. Explore photos from Horikawa’s trunk and listen to Far From Home – Shikata Ga Nai here.
Advice for Life
Anxiety often feels overpowering, yet it plays a crucial role by alerting us to threats or emotional misalignment. However, when anxiety strikes, it can be difficult to recall its purpose. Psychotherapist Britt Frank offers strategies on NPR’s Life Kit to help dial down anxiety symptoms and better interpret their messages.
- 🧠 When anxiety overwhelms you, ask yourself, “What activities or people make me feel secure?” It might be a favorite TV show or a comforting friend. Choose one and immerse yourself in it.
- 🧠 Practice grounding by identifying five things you can hear, taste, touch, smell, or see. You might splash cold water on your face or inhale a strong scent like peppermint.
- 🧠 Recognize physical sensations linked to anxiety. If your stomach feels uneasy, acknowledge it, then focus on a neutral part of your body to balance your awareness.
For further tips on managing anxiety, listen to this episode of NPR’s Life Kit. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert insights on relationships, finances, and well-being.
Three Things to Know Before You Go
A bronze statue depicting Donald Trump holding hands with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appeared near the U.S. Capitol this week.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
- A bronze statue titled Best Friends Forever, showing Trump holding hands with Jeffrey Epstein, surfaced near the U.S. Capitol but was removed within 24 hours. Explore other satirical sculptures that have appeared at Washington D.C.’s National Mall over time.
- This week’s Far-Flung Postcards takes you to Antigua, Guatemala! NPR’s Greg Dixon visited a museum dedicated to Indigenous textiles and discovered a bird-shaped hanging planter crafted entirely from recycled tires, illustrating how discarded materials can be transformed into art.
- With pumpkin spice season underway, NPR’s Word of the Week delves into the origins of the word “spicy.” Dating back to at least 1562, the term evolved by the 19th century to adopt more figurative meanings beyond just flavor.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
