NPR News Now: October 10, 2025, 2AM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens (NPR News Anchor)
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise rundown of major global and national news headlines as of the early hours of October 10, 2025. Main themes include international efforts at peace in the Middle East, significant developments in U.S. legal and political systems, economic updates, and notable events in global politics. The news segment leverages direct quotes and analysis from NPR correspondents, with responses from key political figures.

Key News Summaries & Discussion Points

1. Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

• [00:19] - [00:58]

• Large crowds in Israel react after government acceptance of a U.S.-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza.

• The plan's key points:

  • Return of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
  • Pullback of Israeli troops.
  • Promise of no further displacement of Palestinian civilians.

• President Donald Trump asserts the plan has widespread support and stresses no forced displacement.

  “Nobody is going to be forced to leave. No, it's just the opposite. This is a great plan. This is a great peace plan. This is a plan that was supported by everybody.”
  — President Donald Trump [00:43]

  • Additional uncertainty remains around disarmament of Hamas and post-war governance in Gaza.

• U.S. Central Command to create a task force to oversee the ceasefire.

2. Legal Indictment: New York Attorney General Letitia James

• [00:58] - [02:18]

• Letitia James indicted on bank fraud and false statements charges by a federal grand jury in Virginia.

• James labels the charges as “baseless” and accuses the Trump administration of weaponizing the justice system.

• Context:

  • The indictment follows direct pressure from President Trump on the Justice Department to act against his critics.
  • The same U.S. Attorney recently charged former FBI Director James Comey.
  • James previously sued Trump for asset inflation and initially won — though penalties were overturned on appeal.

  "Trump has long lashed out at James and publicly called for retribution and last month directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after James and other perceived political foes."
  — Ryan Lucas, NPR Correspondent [01:56]

3. Illinois National Guard Blocked

• [02:18] - [03:08]

• Federal Judge April Perry temporarily blocks deployment of the National Guard within Illinois (14-day injunction).

• The Trump administration claims the Guard is needed for security at an immigration processing facility and for ICE.

• Most protests in Chicago remain peaceful, undercutting administration's "war zone" narrative.

• The Judge finds the Department of Homeland Security's account “simply unreliable.”

  “Deploying National Guard troops in Illinois would only add fuel to the fire... The narrative of events presented by the Department of Homeland Security is, quote, simply unreliable.”
  — Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR Correspondent, summarizing Judge Perry [02:27-03:08]

4. Market & Economic Update

• [03:08]
• U.S. futures remain flat in after-hours trading following prior losses on Wall Street.

5. Senate Repeals 2002 Iraq War Authorization

• [03:12]
• U.S. Senate votes to repeal the 2002 resolution that authorized the invasion of Iraq — passing through both chambers and returning war power to Congress.
• Reference to the false claims that justified the war and the cost in lives.

6. Dominion Voting Systems Sold

• [03:21] - [04:38]

• Dominion Voting Systems, subject to persistent conspiracy theories, sold to Liberty Vote, owned by a Republican former elections official.

• Background:

  • Dominion found central during post-2020 election conspiracies, no evidence ever substantiated.
  • Fox News settled a defamation suit with Dominion for nearly $800 million (2023).
  • Sale seen as inevitable due to tarnished reputation.

  “Dominion voting Systems is maybe the starkest example of how 2020 upended the elections world. More than half of all states used their equipment to process votes, and there was never any evidence to support the bogus conspiracy theories...”
  — Miles Parks, NPR Correspondent [03:56]

7. Peru: President Bolwert Removed

• [04:38] - [04:57]
• Peru's lawmakers vote to remove President Dina Bolwert amidst a surge in crime.
• Bolwert, summoned to defend her policies, blames crime wave on illegal immigration.
• Faces upcoming impeachment trial.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This is a great peace plan. This is a plan that was supported by everybody. I mean, as I said, they're dancing in the streets of many, many countries right now. It's amazing. I've never seen anything like it."
  — President Donald Trump [00:43]

• “The narrative of events presented by the Department of Homeland Security is, quote, simply unreliable.”
  — Judge April Perry, via NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran [02:27]

• “Dominion voting Systems is maybe the starkest example of how 2020 upended the elections world...”
  — Miles Parks, NPR News [03:56]

Timestamps: Key Segments

• [00:19] — Israel-Gaza ceasefire highlights, Trump comments
• [00:58] — U.S. Central Command / Letitia James indicted
• [02:18] — Illinois National Guard court block explained
• [03:08] — Economic/futures update
• [03:12] — Senate votes to repeal Iraq War authorization
• [03:56] — Dominion Voting Systems sold; analysis and context
• [04:38] — Peru president ousted amid crime wave

Tone & Language

The episode features NPR’s signature direct, fact-focused reporting—using brief, measured summaries sprinkled with pointed quotes from political actors and correspondents. Correspondents emphasize context, accountability, and the broader implications of each news item.

This five-minute update offers a vital snapshot of the world’s most pressing stories as of October 10, 2025, providing listeners with political, legal, international, and economic developments in compact form.