NPR News Now – October 7, 2025, 10PM EDT

Overview

This episode delivers a succinct overview of major U.S. and international news stories as of October 7, 2025, covering the deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago, uncertainty over federal worker back pay in the ongoing government shutdown, a high-profile murder case in Texas, turmoil in French politics, the price of gold reaching historic highs, and record-setting NFL field goals.

Key News Segments & Insights

National Guard Troops Deployed to Chicago

[00:20]

• Reporter: Ryland Barton
• Main Points:

  • Illinois Governor JB Pritzker confirms National Guard troops from Illinois and Texas have arrived in Chicago.

  • Troops are expected to begin operations later in the week.

  • Governor Pritzker accuses President Trump of using the military for political leverage.

  • Citizens are encouraged to document troop actions as the situation unfolds.

    “Trump is using troops as political pawns and is calling on citizens to document their activities.”
    – Ryland Barton [00:20]

  • Activist Commentary:

    “What we can't do is just sit idly by while these things are occurring. And that's why we've called on people to take action, like creating evidence for our court cases by pulling out their iPhones and their Android phones and filming everything.”
    – Unnamed Activist [00:43]

  • President Trump labels Chicago a “war zone” and threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows deployment of the military during domestic unrest.

  • The state of Illinois is seeking to block Trump’s actions in court; the administration has two days to respond.

Federal Worker Back Pay Uncertain During Government Shutdown

[01:29]

• Reporter: Jenny Abamu (WAMU)
• Main Points:

  • A new White House memo raises doubts about whether furloughed federal employees will receive back pay.

  • The memo reinterprets a 2019 law intended to guarantee compensation for federal workers impacted by shutdowns.

  • Federal employee Sarah Coburn details the uncertainty and fears, yet refuses to give in to each new threat:

    “Am I afraid of that consequence? Of course I have, you know, dependents and a house and a mortgage and all those things. But I can't invest in every threat or I wouldn't survive it.”
    – Sarah Coburn [01:47]

  • Senator Chris Van Hollen, a co-author of the 2019 law, insists the legal language is clear and back pay must be provided.

    “There's nothing the administration can do to change that.”
    – Jenny Abamu paraphrasing Senator Chris Van Hollen [01:57]

Texas AG Launches Investigations of “Leftist Violence”

[02:09]

• Reporter: Caroline Love (KERA)
• Main Points:

  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiates undercover investigations into what he calls “leftist violence.”

  • This announcement follows the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

  • Jason Plezakis, an extremism expert, notes that the administration has defunded federal violence prevention programs.

    “This administration unfortunately hasn't invested in prevention, which is one of the most important ways we can stop this kind of behavior.”
    – Jason Plezakis [02:41]

  • President Trump has officially designated antifa a domestic terrorist organization.

  • The report notes, however, that historically, far-right extremist violence has been more common in the U.S.

Gold Prices Hit Record Highs Amid Economic Uncertainty

[03:01]

• Reporter: Ryland Barton
• Main Points:
  • Gold prices surpass $4,000 per troy ounce—an all-time high.
  • Economic instability, exacerbated by the federal government shutdown and ongoing Trump-era tariffs, has driven investors to seek safe havens.

Ongoing Peace Talks in the Middle East

[03:25]

• Reporter: Ryland Barton
• Main Points:
  • Peace talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Egypt, marking the two-year anniversary of Hamas’s surprise attack.
  • The talks focus on President Trump's proposal for ending hostilities, which would require Hamas to disarm.

Political Crisis in France

[03:49]

• Reporter: Eleanor Beardsley
• Main Points:
  • French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigns ahead of a no-confidence vote, the third premier to step down this year.
  • President Emmanuel Macron faces pressure from both far-right and far-left parties to either appoint a premier from their ranks or call new elections.
  • Parliament remains fractured, with neither right nor left holding a clear majority.
  • Calls grow for Macron himself to resign and trigger early presidential elections.

NFL Kickers Break Records for Long Field Goals

[04:32]

• Reporter: Ryland Barton
• Main Points:
  • NFL kickers are making more field goals from beyond 60 yards due to a new rule allowing teams to prepare game balls in advance.
  • The league has seen four 60+ yard field goals already this season, nearly tying the single-season record.
  • The phenomenon prompts questions about potential ball alterations or performance differences under the new rule.

Notable Quotes

• Governor Pritzker’s Critique:
  “Trump is using troops as political pawns and is calling on citizens to document their activities.” — Ryland Barton [00:20]

• Activist’s Call to Action:
  “What we can't do is just sit idly by… creating evidence for our court cases by pulling out their iPhones and their Android phones and filming everything.” — Unnamed Activist [00:43]

• Federal Worker’s Resilience:
  “I can't invest in every threat or I wouldn't survive it.” — Sarah Coburn [01:47]

• Expert Analysis on Violence Prevention:
  “This administration unfortunately hasn't invested in prevention, which is one of the most important ways we can stop this kind of behavior.” — Jason Plezakis [02:41]

Key Timestamps

• [00:20]: National Guard deployment in Chicago, political and citizen reaction
• [01:29]: Federal worker furlough back pay controversy
• [02:09]: Texas AG Paxton launches ‘leftist violence’ probes
• [03:01]: Gold prices at record highs, economic instability
• [03:25]: Israel-Hamas peace talks in Egypt
• [03:49]: French political crisis and Parliament stalemate
• [04:32]: NFL kickers break long-distance field goal records

This episode captures fast-moving headlines with analysis, context, and key voices from across the spectrum, offering listeners a clear view of the dynamic and sometimes tense state of world affairs as of October 7, 2025.