NPR News Now — October 12, 2025, 12PM EDT

Host: Nora Ramm
Length: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

In this concise news briefing, NPR covers significant global and national events affecting the U.S. and the world as of midday October 12, 2025. Featured stories include emergency funding measures to pay U.S. troops during the ongoing government shutdown, updates on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and U.S. diplomatic involvement, disturbing new health findings for North American youth, escalating tensions in Madagascar and along the Afghan-Pakistan border, a maritime confrontation in the South China Sea, and highlights from Major League Baseball and the Chicago Marathon.

1. U.S. Government Shutdown: Emergency Military Pay Funding

[00:13–01:12]

• Context: U.S. government remains shut down, risking missed paychecks for active military.
• Key Developments:
  • President Trump claims new funds found to pay soldiers this week.
  • Pentagon locates ~$8 billion in unused research/development funds from prior year.
  • Luke Garrett (NPR): These funds ensure this week’s military pay only, "leaving future soldier pay uncertainty."
  • Congress is deadlocked: Democrats and Republicans unable to agree on broader funding.
  • Standalone troop pay bill proposed but GOP leadership insists only on a party-backed short-term deal.

Notable Quote:

"The recently identified funds would likely only cover military paychecks this week, leaving future soldier pay uncertainty." — Luke Garrett [00:49]

2. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and U.S. Involvement

[01:12–01:51]

• Situation: Ceasefire in Gaza enters third day with President Trump traveling to Israel.
• Key Points:
  • Trump to address Knesset and meet families of hostages; scheduled release of hostages expected by midday tomorrow.
  • About 200 U.S. troops deployed in Israel “to help support the ceasefire”; they will not enter Gaza.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance (citing an interview on ABC's "This Week"): U.S. ground troops will not be entering Gaza; instead, Indonesia and other Muslim-majority countries have "offered to send ground troops to Gaza to ensure the necessary peacekeeping."

Notable Moments:

“That’s not something the United States is going to be expected to do... that’s something the Muslim world is going to step up and do.” — Unnamed commentator [01:43]

3. Troubling Trends in Youth Mortality

[01:51–02:56]

• Study: International Global Burden of Disease study reveals rising adolescent and young adult death rates in North America.
• Reported by: Ritu Chatterjee
• Findings:
  • Death rates rising among 5–19 and 25–39-year-olds in North America, reversing decades of decline.
  • Key causes: Gun violence, road injuries, suicide (5–19) and drug overdoses (25–39).
  • Surge in depression and anxiety among youth.

Notable Quotes:

"In the sort of 5 to 19 range, we’re seeing death rates go up after long periods of decline. So that’s very unusual." — Dr. Christopher Murray [02:27]

“The main drivers are gun violence, road injuries and suicide... The other age group... is 25 to 39 year olds, primarily by drug overdoses.” — Dr. Christopher Murray [02:36]

4. Global Political and Military Flashpoints

[02:56–04:05]

• Madagascar:

  • President announces an attempted coup amid youth-led protests and some military defections.
  • No further details provided.

• Afghanistan-Pakistan Border:

  • Violent clashes reported overnight.
  • Afghanistan claims 58 Pakistani soldiers killed; Pakistan reports 23 of its troops dead.
  • Both sides claim to have destroyed each other’s border posts.

• South China Sea:

  • Philippines accuses Chinese Coast Guard of ramming and using a water cannon on a Philippine vessel.
  • China alleges Philippine vessels illegally entered Chinese waters; tensions continue to escalate.

5. Major League Baseball Playoffs Update

[04:05–04:42]

• Milwaukee Brewers defeat Chicago Cubs 3-1 to advance to the National League Championship Series.
  • Series result: Brewers win 3 games to 2.
  • Brewers' manager Pat Murphy highlights team’s resilience:

    "They’ve been doubted all year, everyone. There’s nobody predicting the Brewers playing the Dodgers in the series." — Pat Murphy [04:18]

  • Brewers face Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night.
  • American League Championship: Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays starts Sunday evening.

6. Sports Highlight: Chicago Marathon Winner

[04:42–04:56]

• Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) wins Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 23 seconds, reinforcing his reputation as a world-class distance runner.

Memorable Quotes & Summary Highlights

• On Military Pay:
  “The recently identified funds would likely only cover military paychecks this week, leaving future soldier pay uncertainty.” — Luke Garrett [00:49]

• U.S. Stance on Gaza Peacekeeping:
  “That’s not something the United States is going to be expected to do... that’s something the Muslim world is going to step up and do.” — Unnamed analyst/commentator [01:43]

• Youth Mortality:
  “In the sort of 5 to 19 range, we’re seeing death rates go up after long periods of decline. So that’s very unusual.” — Dr. Christopher Murray [02:27]

• Baseball Playoffs:
  “There’s nobody predicting the Brewers playing the Dodgers in the series.” — Pat Murphy [04:18]

Key Timestamps

• 00:13–01:12 — Military pay and government shutdown update
• 01:12–01:51 — Israel-Hamas ceasefire, U.S. and international responses
• 01:51–02:56 — Global Burden of Disease study: rising North American youth deaths
• 02:56–04:05 — Madagascar coup, Afghan-Pakistan border conflict, South China Sea incident
• 04:05–04:42 — MLB Playoff results and upcoming match-ups
• 04:42–04:56 — Jacob Kiplimo wins the Chicago Marathon