--:-- Kristen Wright: This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X-Card. Earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy. Plus, get premium benefits at a collection of hotels when booking through Capital One Travel. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. Details at CapitalOne.com.
--:-- [Kristen Wright transitions to the news segment]
--:-- Kristen Wright: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright.
--:-- [Kristen Wright begins the news segment]
--:-- Kristen Wright: The U.S. government has been shut down for 12 hours now because federal agencies have pretty much run out of money. And now a funding plan backed by Senate Democrats has just failed a little while ago. Now the Senate is voting on a Republican plan.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Congress failed yesterday to pass competing measures to keep the government funded. NPR's Claudia Grisales says at the center of the shutdown is a political standoff.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Earlier this year, Senate Democrats helped Republicans keep the government funded, but that drew sharp backlash. And since that time, their lack of power in Washington has become even more stark.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: President Trump and Republicans passed a massive partisan spending and tax plan, dismantled government agencies, laid off workers and slashed public services by clawing back billions in spending.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Now Democrats are asking for an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: While the partisan conflict continues an estimated 750 federal workers are expected to be furloughed And funding for SNAP and WIC food and nutrition benefits could run out if there is a prolonged shutdown.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Social Security, veterans and disability benefits are not expected to be affected for now, but some services could be delayed like the processing of applications.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: A new NPR-PBS News Marist poll out today finds an overwhelming majority of people want children vaccinated before going to school.
--:-- Domenico Montanaro: The survey indicates 82 percent support requiring children to be vaccinated against certain diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella before attending public school. That includes 71 percent of Republicans.
--:-- Domenico Montanaro: But Republicans don't feel as strongly as independents or Democrats do about this.
--:-- Domenico Montanaro: For example, 77 percent of those who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election felt strongly that children should be vaccinated, while only 30 percent of Trump voters did.
--:-- Domenico Montanaro: The Trump administration, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has consistently moved to limit vaccinations and downplay their effectiveness.
--:-- Domenico Montanaro: [ pause ] Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington.
--:-- Jason DeRose: The attack on a Latter Saints congregation in Michigan Sunday has some people of faith feeling unsettled about attending religious services NPR Jason DeRose reports from Grand Blanc
--:-- Jason DeRose: The governor of Texas is instructing law enforcement there to increase patrols around houses of worship Officials in Minnesota and Colorado took similar actions after a spate of attacks on religious people and institutions in recent months.
--:-- Abby Brankama: You're going to focus on the better and the good and you shouldn't have to be worried about the evil.
--:-- Abby Brankama: Brankama says she thinks about safety while at worship, but she's not worried. Because we have an excellent security team.
--:-- Jason DeRose: Church security is becoming more widespread these days, something synagogues and mosques in the U.S. have been grappling with for decades.
--:-- Jason DeRose: [ pause ] Jason DeRose, NPR News, Grand Blank, Michigan.
--:-- Kristen Wright: This is NPR.
--:-- Chloe Veltman: Hollywood is pushing back against the arrival of an AI-generated avatar whose creators are calling, quote, the next Scarlett Johansson.
--:-- Chloe Veltman: Tilly Norwood has only so far appeared in short social media clips. It's also unclear whether Tilly Norwood, a fair-skinned brunette with a Margot Robbie smile, can perform scenes with other actors, since the AI has so far only made solo appearances on social media.
--:-- Chloe Veltman: Nevertheless its presence has riled up the acting community since the company that made Tilly Norwood Particle 6 announced this past weekend the creation of a new AI talent studio
--:-- Ariana DeBose: Computer programs don't have emotions. They don't have life experiences to draw on. So simply put, this is one area where computers cannot replace people.
--:-- Chloe Veltman: The actors' union SAG-AFTRA has issued a statement condemning the AI.
--:-- Chloe Veltman: But some actors don't seem phased. Bring it on, said Whoopi Goldberg in a segment on ABC's The View.
--:-- Chloe Veltman: [ pause ] Chloe Veltman, NPR News.
--:-- Kristen Wright: A closely watched employment report out today shows private businesses got rid of jobs in September for the third time in four months.
--:-- Kristen Wright: The data from private payroll processor ADP says the private sector decreased by 32,000 jobs last month.
--:-- Kristen Wright: Analysts say it is another sign of weakness in the Labor Department.
--:-- Kristen Wright: The U.S. Labor Department's report will not be released as scheduled this Friday because of the government shutdown.
--:-- Kristen Wright: I'm Kristen Wright, and you're listening to NPR News in Washington.
--:-- Kristen Wright: Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.
