NPR News: 10-13-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

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

Host: Nora Rahm
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A rapid update on global headlines, focusing on major political events in the Middle East, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, key international developments, and awards.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump in the Middle East (00:15–01:13)

• President Trump's Multinational Diplomacy

  • President Trump is attending a summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Gaza’s future after visiting Israel.
  • Major development: The release of 20 Israelis held hostage by Hamas for over two years, along with the remains of two deceased hostages.

• Speech in Israeli Parliament

  • Trump addressed the Israeli parliament, calling it “an exciting time for Israel and across the Middle East,” and advocated for Israel-Iran peace.
  • Quote:

    “Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change and change very much for the better.” – President Donald Trump (00:48)

  • Incident: Two left-wing Arab majority lawmakers displayed 'Recognize Palestine' signs and were ejected by the parliament’s speaker, to which Trump remarked:
    • Quote:

      “That was very efficient.” – President Donald Trump (01:12)

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2. U.S.-Ukraine Support: Potential Tomahawk Missiles (01:15–02:13)

• Discussion with Ukraine
  • Trump disclosed a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about supplying Tomahawk missiles (American long-range cruise missiles).
  • He mentioned deliberating the issue, highlighting its potential as an escalation in the ongoing war.
    • Quote:

      “They'd like to have Tomahawks. That's a step up. They'd like to have Tomahawks. We talked about that.” – President Donald Trump (01:39)

    • Trump suggested he may discuss the weapons directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin:

      “I might say, look, if this war is not going to get settled, I'm going to send them Tomahawks. I may said that the Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon.” – President Donald Trump (01:52)

  • Zelenskyy reportedly called the recent conversation “very productive,” marking their second discussion in two days.

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3. U.S. Government Shutdown: Day 13 (02:13–02:48)

• Stalemate Continues
  • The government shutdown enters its 13th day with no clear movement.
  • Democrats’ Position: Any government funding bill must continue health care subsidies set to expire this year.
  • Republican Position: Favor a short-term measure maintaining current spending levels.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will reconvene once the government reopens, emphasizing Republican readiness and criticizing Democrats.
    • Quote:

      “We will return to legislative session as soon as the Democrats come to their senses and open the government.” – Mike Johnson (02:34)

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4. Nobel Prize in Economics (02:48–03:18)

• Award Announcement
  • Joel Mokor (Northwestern University), Peter Howitt (Brown University), and Philippe Agnion (College of France; LSE) awarded for research on technology-driven economic growth.

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5. Global Regulation of Internet Content (03:18–03:55)

• UK Online Safety Act Enforcement
  • 4chan fined $26,644 by British authorities for not providing information on illegal online content—the first such penalty under the new Online Safety Act, aimed at protecting children and vulnerable users.

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6. France’s Governmental Upheaval (03:55–04:35)

• Cabinet Reshuffle and Political Turmoil
  • French PM Sebastien Le Cornu announced a new cabinet after brief resignation and fast reinstatement, aiming to stabilize the government and pass a budget amid opposition threats of another no-confidence vote.
  • Quote (Rebecca Rossman):

    “The plan aims to rein in public spending as France faces one of the highest debt levels in the Eurozone.” (04:09)

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7. Weather Update: Tropical Storm Lorenzo (04:35–04:53)

• Storm Not Expected to Threaten Land
  • Central Atlantic’s Tropical Storm Lorenzo becomes the 12th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season; no landfall forecast.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Middle East Peace:

  “Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change and change very much for the better.” (00:48)

• Parliament Disruption in Israel:

  “That was very efficient.” – President Trump on lawmakers’ ejection (01:12)

• Trump on Ukraine Military Aid:

  “They'd like to have Tomahawks. That's a step up. They'd like to have Tomahawks. We talked about that.” (01:39) “I might say, look, if this war is not going to get settled, I'm going to send them Tomahawks.” (01:52)

• Mike Johnson on the Shutdown:

  “We will return to legislative session as soon as the Democrats come to their senses and open the government.” (02:34)

• Rebecca Rossman on France’s Budget:

  “The plan aims to rein in public spending as France faces one of the highest debt levels in the Eurozone.” (04:09)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump in Middle East & Israeli Parliament: 00:15–01:13
• U.S. Support for Ukraine (Tomahawks): 01:15–02:13
• U.S. Government Shutdown Updates: 02:13–02:48
• Nobel Prize in Economics: 02:48–03:18
• 4chan Fined for Online Safety Violation: 03:18–03:55
• French Politics & Cabinet Reshuffle: 03:55–04:35
• Tropical Storm Lorenzo Update: 04:35–04:53

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Summary:
This NPR News Now episode provided a whirlwind of updates from critical diplomatic developments involving President Trump in the Middle East and with Ukraine, to the enduring U.S. government shutdown standoff, significant events in global governance (from a UK internet law enforcement to France’s volatile politics), scientific recognition, and a weather snapshot. The reporting is brisk, focused, and highlights the day’s most consequential events in concise terms.

Transcript

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[Nora Rahm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ram. President Trump is in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for a gathering of world leaders on the future of Gaza. This follows his visit to Israel and and today's release of the 20 remaining Israelis who had been held hostage by Hamas for more than two years. The remains of two deceased hostages were also released. While in Israel, the president spoke to the Israeli parliament. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports.

[Daniel Estrin]

In his speech, President Trump called it an exciting time for Israel and across the Middle east and even called for Israel, Iran, peace.

[President Donald Trump]

Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change and change very much for the better.

[Daniel Estrin]

Two members of a left wing Arab majority political party held up signs saying recognize Palestine. Israel's parliament speaker ordered them to be ejected from the hall. Guards forced them out. Lawmakers chanted Trump's name and Trump said.

[President Donald Trump]

That was very efficient.

[Daniel Estrin]

Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Nora Rahm]

President Trump says he's thinking about sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. As NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Trump says he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr about the missiles during a phone.

[Luke Garrett]

Call yesterday while flying to the Middle east on Air Force One. Trump said he talked to Zelensky about weapons and that he hopes to send more through NATO. But Trump says he hasn't made a decision on whether to send American long range cruise missiles.

[President Donald Trump]

They'd like to have Tomahawks. That's a step up. They'd like to have Tomahawks. We talked about that.

[Luke Garrett]

Sending Tomahawks would be an escalation, Trump says, and he may bring it up with Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.

[President Donald Trump]

I might say, look, if this war is not going to get settled, I'm going to send them Tomahawks. I may said that the Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon.

[Luke Garrett]

Trump then praised the Ukrainians for being good fighters. Earlier Sunday, Zelenskyy said he had a, quote, very productive call with Trump, the second in two days. Luke Garrett, NPR News, the White house.

[Nora Rahm]

It's day 13 of the government shutdown and there's no movement in sight to end the stalemate. Democrats are insisting that any bill to reopen the government must include an extension of health care subsidies scheduled to expire this year. The House isn't in session this week. Speaker Mike Johnson says he'll bring members back to Washington when the government reopens.

[Mike Johnson]

Our members are doing very productive work. We're in constant communication with them, and we are ready to come back and continue the work and our committees and everything on the House floor. We will return to legislative session as soon as the Democrats come to their senses and open the government.

[Nora Rahm]

Republicans want a short term bill that continues government spending at current levels. The Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded today will be shared by Joel Mokor of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, Peter Howitt of Brown University and Philippe Agnion of the College of France and the London School of Economics. They're being honored for their research in how technology can drive sustained economic growth. This is NPR News. British officials said today they fined the US Internet forum site 4chan for failing to provide information on about the risk of illegal content. This is the first penalty imposed under Britain's Online Safety act, designed to protect the children and vulnerable users from illegal content online. The fine is the equivalent of $26,644. French politics face a crucial test this week. Prime Minister Sebastien Le Cornieu, who resigned last week only to reinstate it, has unveiled a second new government as he races to meet a deadline to pass a budget. But as Rebecca Reisman reports, the opposition parties are already calling for a no.

[Rebecca Reisman]

Confidence vote after his dramatic resignation and reinstatement last week. Le Cornu is moving quickly to stabilize France's government. He unveiled a second cabinet late Sunday after the last one collapsed in just 14 hours in hopes of passing a budget before a looming Monday deadline. The plan aims to rein in public spending as France faces one of the highest debt levels in the Eurozone. Several ministers have been replaced, including those overseeing finance and labor, as Le Cornue works to restore confidence in President Emmanuel Macron's struggling centrist coalition. But opposition parties say it's more of the same and are preparing another no confidence vote later this week. Rebecca Rossman, NPR News, Paris.

[Nora Rahm]

The National Hurricane center is tracking Tropical Storm Lorenzo, which formed today in the central Atlantic. It is not expected to threaten land. Lorenzo is the twelfth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

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