NPR News: 10-07-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: October 7, 2025, 7AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: ~5 Minutes

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced news update covers key national headlines for October 7, 2025. Major stories include legal battles over National Guard deployments, Utah’s new congressional redistricting map, the Nobel Prize in Physics, the ongoing federal government shutdown, aviation safety concerns, and new pharmaceutical offerings at Costco.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Legal Battles Over National Guard Deployments

Timestamps: [00:18]–[00:55]

• Illinois & Chicago Sue Trump Administration:

  • Illinois and Chicago are suing President Trump to prevent the deployment of National Guard troops from Illinois and Texas into Chicago.
  • President Trump justifies potential federal deployment as a crime-control measure and raises the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act.

• Quote — Pres. Donald Trump:

  • “Well, I'd do it if it was necessary… I want to make sure that people aren't killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.” (Donald Trump, [00:34])

• Federal Judge Blocks Action in Oregon:

  • Trump has been blocked from deploying National Guard troops to Oregon by a federal judge.
  • Oregon Governor Tina Kotak asserts there is no national emergency in her state.

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2. Utah’s New Congressional Map Amid Redistricting Dispute

Timestamps: [00:55]–[02:07]

• After a federal judge rules previous maps unconstitutional, Utah lawmakers approve “Map C” (favored by Republicans) by a 56:17 vote.

• State Democratic leaders criticize the new map for not meeting voter-approved redistricting standards (Prop 4).

• Quote — Sen. Luz Escamilla:

  • “I do believe this specific map does not follow redistricting standards and requirements of Prop 4.” (Luz Escamilla, [01:40])

• The GOP defends the map as both legal and a move to “stop the Democrats.”

  • Sen. Scott Sandel (Redistricting Committee Co-chair) says it’s the most legally compliant option.

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3. Nobel Prize in Physics for Quantum Breakthroughs

Timestamps: [02:07]–[03:10]

• Three University of California scientists (John Clark, Michel Devoret, John Martinez) are awarded the Nobel for work on quantum mechanical effects in electrical circuits.

  • They demonstrated macroscopic quantum tunneling on a chip in the 1980s.

• Quote — John Clark:

  • “We have not realized in any way that this might be the basis of a Nobel Prize.” (John Clark, [02:50])

• The Royal Swedish Academy cites the impact on quantum tech: computing, cryptography, sensing.

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4. Government Shutdown Impacts & Wall Street Update

Timestamps: [03:10]–[03:32]

• Federal government shutdown enters day seven.
  • Air traffic controllers are unpaid; Burbank Airport in California had no controllers available, though it remained open.
• Financial news: Dow futures are slightly up in premarket trading.

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5. Global Aviation Concerns with Boeing Dreamliner

Timestamps: [03:32]–[04:09]

• Indian pilots call for government inspection of Boeing Dreamliner jets after an Air India model’s emergency system triggered mid-flight (no injuries).
• Context: Incident follows a deadly Air India Dreamliner crash months prior, killing 260.

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6. Costco Sells Blockbuster Obesity Drug Wegovy

Timestamps: [04:09]–[04:51]

• Costco makes Wegovy (obesity drug) available in-store and online for ~$500/month, for members paying out of pocket.
  • Insurance often leads to lower co-pays; discounted direct-to-consumer programs already exist.
  • Increased competition follows compounding pharmacy alternatives during previous drug shortages.

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump [00:34]:
  “Well, I'd do it if it was necessary. So far it hasn't been necessary, but we have an Insurrection act for a reason. If I had to enact it, I'd do that. If people were being killed and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I'd do that. I mean, I want to make sure that people aren't killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.”

• Sen. Luz Escamilla [01:40]:
  “I do believe this specific map does not follow redistricting standards and requirements of Prop 4.”

• John Clark [02:50]:
  “We have not realized in any way that this might be the basis of a Nobel Prize.”

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Segment Timestamps

• National Guard Legal Battles: [00:18]
• Utah Redistricting: [01:21]
• Nobel Prize in Physics: [02:07]
• Wall Street & Gov. Shutdown: [03:10]
• Dreamliner Aviation Issue: [03:32]
• Costco & Wegovy: [04:09]

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This concise NPR News Now edition provides a rapid-fire update on politics, science, business, and health — capturing evolving legal showdowns, technological triumphs, global aviation vigilance, public health innovations, and the continuing effects of the U.S. government shutdown.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago are suing the Trump administration. They're trying to stop the deployment of National Guard troops from Illinois and from Texas. Chicago, President Trump says it's needed to fight crime. He's suggested he could invoke the Insurrection Act.

[Donald Trump]

Well, I'd do it if it was necessary. So far it hasn't been necessary, but we have an Insurrection act for a reason. If I had to enact it, I'd do that. If people were being killed and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I'd do that. I mean, I want to make sure that people aren't killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.

[Korva Coleman]

But Trump has been blocked by federal judge in Oregon from deploying any National Guard troops to Oregon. And Oregon Governor Tina Kotak says there is no national emergency in her state. To address Utah, lawmakers have picked a new congressional map as ordered by a federal judge. From member station kuer, Hugo Ricard Bell reports. The new map is one favored by Republican lawmakers.

[Hugo Ricard Bell]

Utah is undergoing a redistricting process after a judge ruled its maps were unconstitutional. Map C won in a 56:17 final House vote in a special legislative session. But Democrat and Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla told the state Senate she is unimpressed.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

I do believe this specific map does not follow redistricting standards and requirements of Prop 4.

[Hugo Ricard Bell]

In an email sent out to its members, the state's Republican Party described MAPC as, quote, needed to stop the Democrats. But redistricting committee co chair and Republican Senator Scott Sandel also said it is the option that best follows the law. For NPR News, I'm Hugo Ricard Bell in Salt Lake City.

[Korva Coleman]

This year's Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three University of California scientists. Their work demonstrated quantum mechanical effects in electrical circuits. And NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce explains this could aid the development of future quantum technologies such as better computers.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

The three researchers who won the prize are John Clark, Michel Devoret, and John Martinez. In the mid-1980s, they did experiments that showed how a subatomic phenomenon, quantum tunneling, can be observed on a macroscopic scale involving many particles on a chip. At a press briefing, Clark said he was stunned that they won.

[Donald Trump]

We have not realized in any way that this might be the basis of a Nobel Prize.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

The prize committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said their advances could lead to the next generation of quantum technologies, including quantum cryptography and new kinds of sensors. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow futures are slightly higher. This is npr. This is the seventh day of the federal government shutdown. It's affecting air traffic controllers who are not getting paid. There were no controllers at the Burbank Airport near Los Angeles last evening, although the airport said it was still open. A pilots organization in India is asking the Indian government to check Boeing's Dreamliner jets. Last weekend, an Air India Dreamliner jet suddenly deployed an emergency power system while it was in flight. It landed safely. The incident comes months after another Boeing Dreamliner owned by air India crashed. 260 people aboard were killed. Costco shoppers can now add something new to their carts, the blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy. They can get it at the Costco pharmacy or online for around $500 a month. NPR's Sydney Lupkin has more.

[Sydney Lupkin]

Discounted Wegovy is now available to Costco members as long as they're not using their health insurance. With insur, however, the drug's co pay is often less expensive. The discount program is similar to what the drug's maker, Novo Nordisk, already offers on its website. The company launched discounted Wegovy on its direct to consumer platform Novocare and partnered with several telehealth companies last spring. That allowed Novo Nordisk to compete with telehealth companies offering compounded obesity drugs. During the Wegovy shortage, the compounded medicines, which aren't usually covered by insurance, were available for a fraction of Wegovy's sticker price of around 1,400 doll a month. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

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