NPR News Now – October 13, 2025, 12AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of the latest national and international news stories, touching on U.S. politics, global conflict resolution efforts, the state of the economy, a major industrial accident, trends in U.S. energy usage, and college football highlights.

Main Stories & Key Insights

1. President Trump’s Middle East Trip & Gaza Ceasefire

[00:18–01:12]

• President Trump is heading to the Middle East to mark what is hoped to be the end of the war in Gaza.
• Itinerary:
  • Short visit to Israel: speech at the Knesset (Israeli parliament)
  • Meeting with families of hostages
  • Trip to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, for the “Middle East Peace Ceremony”
  • Neither Hamas nor Israel are attending the ceremony.
• Hostage/Prisoner Exchange:
  • Israel expects Hamas to release all remaining living hostages Monday morning.
  • In Gaza, families anticipate the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as part of the latest ceasefire (effective since Friday morning).

Notable Quote:

“President Trump is arriving in Israel tomorrow just for a few short hours. He’s going to be delivering a speech at Israel’s parliament... And then he flies to Egypt to Sharm el Sheikh for a short ceremony dubbed the Middle East Peace Ceremony. There will be major regional and international leaders there. Hamas and Israel are not attending.”
— Daniel Estrin, [00:26]

2. Wall Street Watch – Economic Outlook & Trade War

[01:13–02:12]

• Major U.S. banks, including JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, to release quarterly earnings.
• Corporate profits are exceeding expectations for the year, even amid market volatility and uncertainty over trade tariffs.
• President Trump’s tariffs on China continue to raise prices for consumers and create global uncertainty.
• With the ongoing government shutdown, investors rely more on private sector data, as federal updates on jobs and inflation are delayed.
• The performance of big banks is seen as a barometer for broader consumer and business activity.

Notable Quote:

“Overall, corporate profits have been beating expectations this year. That’s despite spikes of market chaos and ongoing uncertainty over how President Trump’s tariffs are reshaping the global economy and raising prices for consumers.”
— Maria Aspen, [01:36]

3. Tennessee Munitions Plant Explosion

[02:12–03:12]

• Explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in Tennessee has killed 16 people.
• The plant produces multiple military explosives, including TNT and C4 components.
• Authorities have not disclosed which explosives were involved; investigations continue.
• ATF agent Tyra Cunningham emphasized the need for accurate information before public release.

Notable Quote:

“Any information that we give to the community, we want to be 100% spot on, so I will not speculate.”
— Agent Tyra Cunningham, ATF, [02:54]

4. Attempted Coup in Madagascar

[03:12–03:29]

• The President of Madagascar announces an attempted coup following soldiers joining anti-government protests.
• Protests are fueled by complaints of service failures and accusations of government corruption and nepotism.

5. Shift Toward Electric Home Heating

[03:29–04:28]

• New Census data: More U.S. homes use electricity for heating, declining use of natural gas.
• Electric heat pumps becoming more popular due to efficiency.
• Natural gas remains cheapest, but its share has dropped from over a third to 47% (electric at 42%).
• Scientists warn climate goals require sharply reduced natural gas use; some states/localities have banned new gas hookups.

Notable Quote:

“To avoid the most damaging consequences of a hotter climate, nearly half the known gas reserves will have to stay in the ground.”
— Jeff Brady, [04:09]

6. College Football Rankings

[04:28–04:57]

• Indiana moves to third after defeating Oregon, marking its highest-ever ranking.
• Top five:
  1. Ohio State
  2. Miami
  3. Indiana
  4. Texas A&M
  5. Mississippi
• Rounding out the top 10: Alabama, Texas Tech, Oregon, Georgia, LSU.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “President Trump is arriving in Israel tomorrow just for a few short hours. He’s going to be delivering a speech at Israel’s parliament...”
  — Daniel Estrin, [00:26]
• “Any information that we give to the community, we want to be 100% spot on, so I will not speculate.”
  — Agent Tyra Cunningham, ATF, [02:54]
• “To avoid the most damaging consequences of a hotter climate, nearly half the known gas reserves will have to stay in the ground.”
  — Jeff Brady, [04:09]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Middle East/Gaza War Ceasefire & Trump’s Visit: [00:18–01:12]
• Economic Report & Bank Earnings: [01:13–02:12]
• Tennessee Plant Explosion: [02:12–03:12]
• Madagascar Coup Attempt: [03:12–03:29]
• Shifting Home Heating Trends: [03:29–04:28]
• College Football Top 10: [04:28–04:57]

Overall Tone

Direct, factual, and urgent—clear focus on swiftly delivering updates on current events.